Handle and fastener for can tops



Feb. 19 ,'1924.

P. A. CONNER HANDLE AND FASTENER FOR CAN TOPS Filed July is. 1922 gumMica 231M124. Chaim;

Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PALMER A. comma, or GL-ENDO, WYOMING;

HANDLE AND FASTENER FOR CAN TOPS.

Application filed July 15,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PALMER A. CoNNnR,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendo, in the county ofPlatte and State of WVyoming, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements Handles and Fasteners for Can Tops, of whichthe followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a handle andfastener for can tops, whereby when it is necessary to remove the top,all that is needed is to grip the handle, and actuate the fasteners, andthen lift upon the can top, in which case the fasteners will disengagekeepers of the can, and the top will easily withdraw.

Another purpose is the pro-vision of a handle secured to the can top atdiametrically opposite points'of the top, the handle having means at itsends for the reception of fasteners, which are pivotally mounted inposition, and are under tension of springs, which act to hold thefasteners in engagement with keepers at diametrically opposite positionson the can.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modifications of detail and desired proportionsmay be made in the apparatus according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, aswill be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a can, showing the topapplied, upon which the handle and fastener are connected;

' Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 212 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the handle and its fastenersdetached from the can top;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4- 1 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the neck of a can, in whichmilk, cream or any other fluid may be contained, and 2 denotes the top,which is hollow and comprises a cylindrical portion 3 and a conicalportion 4, both of which conform to the contour of the neck of the can.The marginal portion of the upper part of the top 1922. Serial No.575,376.

is outwardly and downwardly turned to form an overhangingfiange 5( This,outwardly and downwardly turned flange engages the upper margin of theneck of the can, and acts to preclude the rain and snow.

A suitable handle 6 is rovided, and comprises a single piece 0 sheetmetal bent upon itself to form the opposed walls 7, between which, atthe ends of the handle upon mounted. These latches or fasteners areangular in form, and each consists of a handle 10 at one end, and a lugor nose 11 at the other end. Suitable pins 12 extend rivets 8, latchesor fasteners 9 are pivotally through the opposed portions 7 ofthe'handle 6, and have their ends swagedor headed, to hold them in position.Leaf springs 13 are also mounted between the opposed portions 7 of thehandle 6 and have their adjacent end portions ltengaging the handles 10of the latches or fasteners, whereas their other ends are engaged aroundone of the pins 12, that is to say after engaging under another of saidpins 12. These springs 13 bear upon thehandles '10 of the latches orfasteners, to hold the noses 11 of the fasteners in engagement with thesockets 15, which are formed at diametrically opposite positions on theneck with the inner surface of the neck of the can, thereby holding thecan top securely in position.

Obviously a can top so equipped with a handle and fasteners 01" latchesof the construction illustrated and described, will re-j tain the topsecurely in position. It has been found that milk and cream cans may bethrown on and off cars, to and from the platform, and into wagons, andotherwise tossedand-jostled about, without causingthe top becomingdisengaged from the neck of the can.

As previously stated the handle 6 is constructed of sheet metal bentlongitudinally portions 7, which at the ends of the handle are turned toform lateral ears 18, which are riveted or otherwise secured at 19 tothe can top. The greater portion of the central part of the handle 6 atits lower upon itself as at 17, to form the opposite Q 1 sa-pee handlecarried by the topand spring tenvsioned members carried by the handlefor engagement with. the sockets to retain the top in position.

2. The combination with the neck of a can provided with diametricallyopposite keepers, of a top telescopically fitting the neck, a handlesecured to thetop, and angular fasteners pivotally mounted upon thehandle and provided with noses for engagement with the keepers to retainthe top in position, said fasteners having means extending toward eachother, adapted to be engaged by the hand of an operator as it grips thehande, so that the top may be unlatched and lifted from the neck, as aresult of upward movement of the hand.

3. The combination with the neck of a can provided with diametricallyopposite keepers, a hollow can top telescopically fitting said neck, ahandle secured to the top, fasteners pivoted to the handle and havingnoses to engage the keepers, said fasteners having handles extendingtoward each other and located under the first handle, whereby uponmoving the handles of the fasteners toward the handle of the top at thesame time alifting movement is imparted to the top to lift the same, thenoses of the fasteners are Withdrawn from the keepers, and tensioningmeans for the fasteners.

4. The combination with the neck of a can provided with diametricallyopposite keepers, a can top telescopically fitting the neck, a handlesecured to the top, means operatively mounted upon the handle andprovided with means for engagement with the keepers, and includingadditional means operable toward the center of the handle of the topwhen the handle is grasped whereby the first means may be withdrawn fromthe keepers. I I

5'. In a handle and fastener for can tops, a can having a neck providedwith keepers, a top telescopically fitting the neck, a handle secured tothe top, means-operatively mounted on the ends of the handle andengageable with the keepers for holding the top in position, said meansincluding operable spring tensioned means adapted to be ac tuated towardthe central portion of the handle at the same time the hand of anoperator engages the handle whereby the first means may be disengagedfrom the keepers.

6. A closure for a can body comprising a closure member adapted to beplaced upon the can body, a handle secured to said member, fastenersmounted upon the handle and engaging the can body when the closurevmember is applied thereto to retain the closure member in position,said fasteners having means extending along the handle adapted to beengaged by the hand of an operator as it grips the handle so that theclosure member may be unlatched and lifted from the can.

7. A closure for a can body comprising a closure member adapted to beplaced upon the can body, a handle secured to said member, fastenersmounted upon the handle and engaging the can body when the closuremember is applied thereto to retain the closure member in position, saidfasteners having means extending along the handle adapted to be engagedby the hand of an operator as it grips the handle so that the closuremember may be unlatched and lifted from the can, and means forconstantly urging the fasteners in a direction to engage the can bodywhen the closure member is applied.

8. A closure for acan body comprising a closure member adapted to beplaced upon the can body, a handle secured to the closure member, andmeans operatively mounted upon the handle for engagement with the canbody when the closure member is applied thereto, said means includingadditional means operating when the handle is grasped to render saidfirst named means inoperative.

9. In combination with a closure member, a handle therefor, and lockingmeans for the closure member supported entirely by the handle, saidlocking means being so located as to be engaged by the hand of anvoperator as it grips the handle so that said locking means may bereleased.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

PALMER A. CONNER.

